Species of the Derwent

A variety of unique communities of plants and animals live in the Derwent estuary, specially adapted for life between land and sea. Little penguins, sea dragons, black swans, platypus and dolphins are just some of the many species that call the Derwent estuary home. Explore and learn about these organisms, their role in food webs, and the threats they face.

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Macrophytes

Community type

Habitat type

Macrophytes are aquatic flowering plants, that often grow fully submerged (under water) by attaching to the sediments of wetlands and estuaries. These plant types are often overlooked but macrophytes growing in shallow waters may be visible on muddy banks or along the foreshore when exposed by a low tide. Macrophytes also break off and float on the surface in big clumps. Although they are flowering plants the flowers are tiny and hard to see. Large areas of macrophyte ‘beds’ or ‘meadows’ occur in the Derwent estuary, especially in the middle estuary. For example, major beds occur in shallow waters between Granton, Bridgewater, Austins Ferry and Gagebrook. Macrophyte beds contain a range of plant species, often dominated by Rupia megacarpa (sea-tassel), with other common species being Lepilaena cylindrocapra, Lamprothamnium sp., and Myriophyllum salsugineum. In the middle estuary macrophyte species occur in mixed assemblages with more marine seagrasses, while in the lower estuary seagrasses dominate.

Macrophytes play a vital role in the transport of nutrients from sediments into the food chain. They are an important habitat for aquatic macroinvertebrates. The plants provide protection for invertebrates from the current, as well as protection from predators, and some invertebrates feed on them directly, while others feed on algae that grow on leaves. Macrophytes are also a major food for plant eating fish, and a range of herbivorous waterbirds such as black swans and Eurasian coots.

Much of the text within the species area of our website was written by Veronica Thorpe, as part of the Derwent River Wildlife Guide (2000).

The DEP has developed a variety of classroom and outdoor activities focused around the key estuary habitats of tidal wetlands, salt marshes and rocky reefs. These include classroom materials, online resources, interpretive walks, games and sensory experiences.